23 Mobile Things is a self-paced learning program that will identify 23 types of apps for you to discover.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

This program is open to all staff in any Minnesota library – public, academic, school, or special – as well as members of their Governing Boards, their Friends groups, or Advisory Groups. College students in Minnesota library science programs, like those at St. Kate’s, St Cloud State, and MCTC, are also encouraged to participate. Experienced users as well as novices and everyone in between are invited to join. This is self-paced and self-directed.

WHAT DO I NEED?

23 Mobile Things is BYOD – Bring Your Own Device. All you need is an Apple-based (iPhone, iPad) or an Android-based (i.e. Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy) device. You also need to know how to find, download, and install an app on your device from whatever source you use.

Disclaimer: We made the decision to focus on iOS7 and Android for this program. We used a variety of Apple and Android devices to write up all the Things, but we know our screenshots and videos may not look exactly like your device. The functionality should be the same on your device, but the icons or buttons may just be in different spots than what you see in our screenshots or videos. Try your best with our information or find apps that work on your device and blog about those.

HOW IT WORKS

We have identified the 23 Things for you to do over the course of the program, but you decide when you do them, the amount of time you spend, and the depth of your exploration. Each of the 23 Things may take an hour to explore or longer depending upon your interest and the time you want to put into it. You document your participation by setting up and maintaining a blog, which is Thing 1.

Each Thing will show you many different apps. These apps will cover a variety of topics: social media, presentations, photography, reference, news, notes, games, and so much more. We have a lot for you to explore and experiment with to determine how you may use these in your library, for your professional development, or personally.

Disclaimer: All the information about the apps and how to use them was up-to-date and accurate as of December 2013. Things may have changed since then. Read an extended disclaimer in the FAQs.

Even if you think you know about the apps in 23 Mobile Things, we encourage you to join the program. And we will learn from you because you will blog about your discoveries.

Everyone who registers by February 15, 2014, completes all 23 items on the list, and blogs about each one by June 15, 2014 will receive a completion prize. Otherwise, there is no deadline and this course will remain online.

Registration occurs as part of Thing 1.

REGISTRATION

Registration begins January 15, 2014.

You must register your blog by February 15, 2014 and then complete all 23 Things by June 15, 2014.

Each Thing begins with a brief explanation of the app category, followed by many suggested apps and some tips on how to use them. The tips give you the background needed to understand the apps. Don’t skip them!

When you have read and done the tips for each Thing, write a blog post about your experience. (You will learn how to set up a blog in Thing 1.) Your blog is the tool to communicate your reactions, new-found skills, ideas, questions, and favorite apps to the other 23 Mobile Things participants and is how your completion of all 23 Things is documented.

There may be some workshops offered in different multitype regions to support this program, but not for every Thing. This is a self-paced program, but staff are encouraged to work together in their libraries or regions and share with each other their discoveries and techniques in person and through their blogs.

Because the apps showcased here are some of the most popular apps available we do want you to blog about these specific apps. It’s important that library staff should know about them so that you’re familiar with them when patrons ask and/or if you want to use them to interact with patrons. But as noted in each Thing, we also want you to tell us about apps that you’ve discovered. We look forward to learning from participants, too!

Just look on the top, right-hand side of the site where it says Participants’ Blogs. Click on your multitype region to see the blogs in that region. NOTE: We add the blogs manually, they are not automatic, so it may take many days for your blog link to show up.

Give us a few days to add your blog, then check the blogroll for your multitype region (under “Participant Blogs” on the right side of the Welcome page). If you don’t see your blog listed after a few days, email us at minn23@gmail.com.

We decided to focus on Apple and Android devices for this program, so you won’t find Windows 8 information here. We chose to focus on Apple and Android because they have the corner on the market right now and they are the type of devices we’re seeing in libraries and at library conferences.

Of course! We’re seeing a lot of 23 Things on a Stick blogs when people register and that’s great. We don’t care what blog you use, just as long as we know which posts on the blog are for 23 Mobile Things, so if you have continued to use your 23 Things on a Stick blog, just please put Thing 1, Thing 2, etc., in the title of the each blog post for 23 Mobile Things.

It usually only takes a couple days for us to add your badge next to your blog listing on your multitype region’s blogroll. But please see #6 under the FAQs – you need to notify us when you reach the milestones in your blogging so we can add your badge.

We don’t do this because not everyone does the Things in a row. You can do them in whichever order you like, except for the first and last ones. But you don’t have to go back to the homepage to access the Things. When you’re finished with one, just scroll up and click on “The 23 Things” in the banner at the top of the website to find them all.

I set up a blog and completed my Thing one blog assignment in order to register. When I tried to register, it said it was closed. How do I still take the class without being eligible for the “prize” I don’t need the prize, just want the knowledge. I’m a high school librarian.

Registration was open from January 15 to February 15, 2014, so unfortunately registration is closed. These registration dates are listed on the Welcome page, under the FAQs, and in Thing 1. You can still look at all the content and do the program on your own, everything is here on this site, but unfortunately we cannot take more registrations.

Participants' Blogs

Tweet with us! #23ThingsMN

Earn badges for your progress! See #6 under the FAQs for details on how to get your badges!

Multitype Library Systems

This statewide program is brought to you by Minnesota’s seven multicounty multitype library systems (multitypes). The multitypes improve library services by promoting & facilitating cooperation among the academic, public, school library media centers, & special libraries within their regions. This program is part of the professional development that all of the multitypes provide for the library staff of their members.